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2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. F. SPURGIN.

DESK.

Patented Feb. 22, 18 87.

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N. PETERS. Pnmuino m Washinglon. ILC.

, K c .II||. II I V A h 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Mqdel.)

W. F. SPURGIN.

DESK.

No. 358,229. Patented Feb. 22, 1887.

I I I Le vwzfor v Wbzewes: 515% UNIT D STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

,WILLIAM F. srunem, on THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

DESK.

SPECIFICATION torming part of Letters Patent No. 358,229, dated February 22,1887.

Application filed November 15, 1886. Serial No. 218,908. No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, \VILLIAM F sPURGIN, of the United States Army, now residing at West Point, county of Orange, State of New York, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Desks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

Myinvention relates to desks; and itconsists in the devices and parts and their combinations, hereinafter particularly described, and as more at length recited in the claims.

Figure 1 is a frontelevation of a desk containing my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssection of the same, taken on the line a: 00, Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4 is a rear elevation, or one on the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.

My invention is particularly applicable to what are known as table-desks or flat-top desks, but the parts anddevices I shall describe may be readily combined with any other ordinary form of desk.

The desk shown in the drawings is of the flat-top or table pattern.

. In the desk shown, A is the top, and B B are the side compartments or closets, which close the desk in at its sides or ends. These sides or ends are in the usual form, and-are well known. WVithin thedesk, and below the table or topiA, and when a desk of the form shown in the drawings is constructed, preferably in the space between the end compartments, B, I constitute and form the compartments 0, one or more, by means of a bottom piece, 0, paneling a, closing in the rear or side of the desk opposite to that at which the writer sits, and the front partition-piece. 0 extending upward from the bottom piece, 0, about midway of the width of the desk, and with more or less of an inclined portion, 0, to and communicating with a chute or chutes, 0*, leading one to each of said compartments 0, at or near the side at which the writer sits. It is preferable, in the described desk, that these'chutes a should open just below the top of the table and immediately in front of the writer as shown. A recess, O, is thus constituted, bounded at the sides by the walls of the side compartments,

B, at the rear by the inclined partition-piece 0 c and at the top by the bottom of the chutes c, and adapted to permit the lower limbs of the sitter at the desk to enter said recess. The mouths of the chutes 0 toward the sitter are desirably provided with a detachable lid or cover, which may be in the form shown-that of a slide, 0 iua slot in the desk-top; but said lid may be hinged or arranged to open and close in any other suitable manner.

To constitute several compartments 0, I employ the dividing-partitions 0 as shown, and at the rear or side opposite to the entering chutes may be arranged the doors 0*, one to each compartment, hinged in the paneling c.

The compartments 0 may be placed at any other point or portion of the desk than that heretofore stated and shown,at pleasure and to suit the general construction of any particular form of desk, and the chutes 0* may lead thereto from such portion of the top or side of the desk structure as may be desired, the essential features of this part of my present invention being the compartments 0, one or more, incorporated in a desk and having the chutes 0* leading to them, the inclined wall 0 by means of which articles or papers passed into the chutes are projected into the compartments, and the doors 0 one to each compartment. by means ofwhich the compartments are closed, and through which their contents may be withdrawn.

It is evident that a person sitting at a desk constructed as described may utilize the compartments O to sort out and classify letters, documents. or papers which require attention in groups, or by certain clerks. and that in the latter case the contents of each compartment may be removed bya clerk holding the key to the door without disturbing the person occupied at the desk.

Another novel feature of my improved desk,

of the particular pattern herein described, is the drawer D, which is arranged to slide upon ways or guides-as, for example, at d, Fig. 1- in the space between the bottom of the desk structure and the bottom of compartments 0, as shown plainly in Fig. 3. This drawer,when slid into place against the back of the desk, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, is of such alength that its end toward the front ot the desk, im-

mediately in the recess 0, projects somewhat into said recess. This drawer is adapted to receive waste paper, such matter being conveniently deposited by the person at the desk by tossing it into the open projecting end in reeess 0.

Another novel feature is that I provide a desk constructed as herein described and having the rear of the desk closed in between the side compartments by the partitions constituting the compartments G,with the bottom piece, E, which is supplemental to the bottoms of the desk ends, and which constitutes a bottom or flooring to the recess 0. By means of this construction the recess 0 is inclosed on all sides, except thefront, and on the top and bottom, and thus all drafts of air are cut olfl'rom the limbs of the person sitting at the desk.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desireto 7 toting compartments 0 between said ends,

secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a desk structure, the combination of the compartments 0, one or more, the chutes 0*, leading from or near the desk-top to the inclined wall 0 in each compartment, and the doors 0', one to each compartment, in the desk- A and ends B, of the bottom piece, 0, paneling c, and partition-piece c c, constituting compartments C, one or more, the chutes 0, leading, one to each compartment, from or near the said top, and the doors C communicating one with each of said compartments, as specified.

In a desk, the combination, with the end parts, B, and partition-pieces c, c, 0 c, and e, constituting the recess C, open on the front 01' the desk, for the purpose set forth, of the drawer D on ways (I, located under and of a greaterlcngth than the partitionpiece c,so that it will project at all times more or less forward into said recess at the rearward part of the bottom thereof beyond the line of the partition piece 0', as an d for the purpose described.

4'. In a desk, the combination, with the top 1 A and ends B, of the bottom piece, E, and the t l l l l l l l chutes c and )artitions c c c" and c constiand also closing the recess 0, except at the trout, as and for the purpose specified.

WILLIAM F. SPURGIN.

\Vitnesses:

Amos W. \viLLmirs, JAMES E. \VILsoN. 

